A few weeks later, Darren still hadn’t returned.

Aria was growing lonely, sitting by herself in the Imperial Concubine’s garden. No matter how many times she had been told not to worry, she couldn’t help but stare at the horizon, beyond the City’s high walls.

She had changed over the past few weeks. Under her new guardian’s insistence, she had started taking better care of herself. She was now used to wearing the beautiful red gowns and jewelry. Every ...